Quiet dinners.

But slowly, we learned that hiding abuse can become part of how someone survives it.

Three months later, the investigation was still active.

Steven no longer attended the school.

Emily had started counseling.

Kayla’s hair was slowly growing back.

And Reese no longer carried her recorder everywhere.

But she kept it inside her bedside drawer.

One morning, I found her staring at it.

“What are you thinking about?”

She shrugged.

“I think it saved Kayla.”

I sat beside her.

“No.”

She frowned.

“Kayla saved herself.”

“But I cut her hair.”

“Yes.”

“You’re not mad?”

“I wish you had come to me first.”

She looked at me.

“Would you have believed me?”

I thought carefully before answering.

“I hope so.”

She nodded.

“Me too.”

Later that afternoon, Kayla came downstairs wearing a baseball cap.

She stopped beside Reese.